Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Separating Fact from Fiction

When a clinical health issue like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) becomes part of our everyday language, it can be tricky to separate fact from fiction. Here, we look at some realistic signs of OCD.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, has entered our everyday language in ways that are true as well as completely off base. Not to mention, Hollywood has weighed in and often depicts its own version of OCD.

OCD is a very disruptive mental health issue that affects 1 in 100 kids and 1 in 40 adults in the United States. As specialists in anxiety disorders like OCD, our team at Point of View Mental Health in Scottsdale, Arizona, wants to help separate fact from fiction when it comes to this disorder.

Here, we review some OCD basics to help you better understand this common mental health issue.

Two pieces to the OCD puzzle

There are two main components of OCD:

1. Obsession

This piece of the puzzle describes the uncontrollable thoughts and ideas that swirl around in your brain. These thoughts are intrusive and persistent and can also come in the form of mental pictures. No matter what form the obsession presents in, it induces anxiety, stress, and fear.

Examples of obsession include:

Worrying about germs
Worrying about personal safety
Fear of losing control
Aggressive thoughts toward yourself and/or others
Needing things to be ordered

Obsession can also include intrusive thoughts on subjects that are taboo in your world, such as sex or crime.

2. Compulsion

This side of the OCD equation includes the actions you take to address your intrusive thoughts and obsessions. For example, you’re terrified of getting sick from germs and the only way to relieve this obsession is to wash your hands repeatedly.

Another common example is checking things over and over — is the stove off, is the door locked, is the water still running, etc.? As well, people may relieve obsessions by putting things in order or repeating words or prayers over and over.

It’s important to note that people can have obsessions without compulsion, and they still have OCD. In other words, you can have one or the other or both when it comes to the two components of OCD.

Help for OCD

There are some rules of thumb for diagnosing OCD, starting with how much the issue affects your life. If you spend more than an hour each day on either obsession, compulsion, or both, and it disrupts your ability to function, this likely qualifies as OCD.

Whatever the criteria, if your OCD is preventing you from truly enjoying life, that’s all we need to hear. From there, we work with you on behavioral and talk therapies that can help put your OCD in the background.

We can also try medications to relieve some of the stronger symptoms. Rest assured, we will find the combination that works best for your OCD so you can move forward with peace of mind.

If you want to break free from your OCD, your first step is to call our office at 520-999-9114 or connect with us online to schedule a consultation. Please note that we offer telemedicine services throughout Arizona for your convenience.